Fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser

ABSTRACT

A fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser for a trotline of the type having a plurality of spaced leaders attached at one end to the trotline; each leader has a fishhook attached to the free end thereof; each fishhook has a shank portion, an eye at one end of the shank portion for attachment to the leader, a curved portion attached to one end to the other end of the shank portion and a barb on the other end of the curved portion; the holding and dispensing device comprises an elongated casing formed by narrow elongated and horizontal top and bottom walls, a vertical and elongated side wall connecting from one side edge of the top wall to one side edge of the bottom wall, an elongated and vertical lip connected to and extending downwardly from the other side edge of the top wall parallel with the side wall, an elongated and vertical intermediate wall connected to and extending upwardly from the other side edge of the bottom wall and terminating in an upper side edge spaced below and parallel with the top wall, said intermediate wall being disposed between and parallel with said side wall and said lip, the upper side edge of said intermediate wall having a rounded end adjacent one end of the said casing; the vertical height of the intermediate wall is preferably somewhat less than the length of the shank portion of the fishhook extending from the eye portion thereof to the center of the curved portion thereof; the horizontal distance between the lip and the intermediate wall is preferably less than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fishhook to the shank portion thereof; the dimensional recitations set forth above prevent the barbs of the various hooks from becoming entangled with each other; preferably, the holder and dispensing device can be folded from a single sheet of metallic material.

United States Patent [191 Jackson et a1.

[4 1 Oct. 22, 1974 1 1 FISHHOOK AND TROTLINE HOLDER AND DISPENSER [76] Inventors: Charles T. Jackson. Rt. 1, Box 354,

Wagoner, Okla. 74467; Roy 0. Vaughn, Rt. 5, Box 640, Benton, Ark. 72015 [22] Filed: June 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,130

[52] US. Cl 43/545 A [51] Int. Cl A0lk 97/06 [58] Field of Search 43/545 R, 54.5 A, 57.5 R, 43/575 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.697.588 1/l929 Burt 43/575 R 1,997,243 4/1935 Vanderhider ct al.... 43/545 A 2,242,509 5/1941 Coalson t. 43/545 A 2.499.042 2/1950 Vogel 43/575 R 2.633.661 4/1953 Stevens et a1 43/545 A 2,710.484 6/1955 McGinnis 43/575 R 2.778.142 1/1957 Berry 43/545 A Primary Examiner-Warner H. Camp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William S. Dorman [57] ABSTRACT A fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser for a trotline of the type having a plurality of spaced leaders attached at one end to the trotline; each leader has a lishhook attached to the free end thereof; each fishhook has a shank portion, an eye at one end of the shank portion for attachment to the leader, a curved portion attached to one end to the other end of the shank portion and a barb on the other end of the curved portion; the holding and dispensing device comprises an elongated casing formed by narrow elongated and horizontal top and bottom walls, a vertical and elongated side wall connecting from one side edge of the top wall to one side edge of the bottom wall, an elongated and vertical lip connected to and extending downwardly from the other side edge of the top wall parallel with the side wall, an elongated and vertical intermediate wall connected to and extending upwardly from the other side edge of the bottom wall and terminating in an upper side edge spaced below and parallel with the top wall, said intermediate wall being disposed between and parallel with said side wall and said lip, the upper side edge of said intermediate wall having a rounded end adjacent one end of the said casing; the vertical height of the intermediate wall is preferably somewhat less than the length of the shank portion of the fishhook extending from the eye portion thereof to the center of the curved portion thereof; the horizontal distance between the lip and the intermediate wall is preferably less than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fishhook to the shank portion thereof; the dimensional recitations set forth above prevent the barbs of the various hooks from becoming entangled with each other; preferably, the holder and dispensing device can be folded from a single sheet of metallic material.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FISHHOOK AND TROTLINE HOLDER AND DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for holding and dispensing fishhooks for a trotline; more particularly, the present invention relates to a holding and dispensing device for fishhooks and trotlines which is simpler and less expensive than those heretofore available; the present invention also prevents the hooks from becoming entangled with each other.

2. The Prior Art The prior art patents which are believed to be the most pertinent as far as the present invention is concerned are as follows: to Vanderhider et al. US. Pat. No. 1,997,243, to Coalson US. Pat. No. 2,242,509, to Stevens et al. US. Pat. No. 2,633,661.

The prior art, typified by the above enumerated patents, shows that it is broadly old to provide devices for holding and dispensing fishhooks and trotlines. The prior art, such as the Vanderhider et al patent referred to above, shows that it is old to make such devices from a single sheet of metal which can be folded to provide the ultimate device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention discloses a fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser for a trotline of the type having a plurality of spaced leaders attached at one end to the trotline and a fishhook attached to the free end of each leader. Each fishhook is composed of a shank portion, an eye at one end of the shank for attachment to the leader, a curved portion at the other end of the shank and a barb on the free end of the curved portion. The device itself comprises an elongated casing having narrow and elongated top and bottom walls, a side wall connecting one side edge of the top wall with one side edge of the bottom wall, an elongated and vertical lip connected to and extending downwardly from the other side edge of the top wall parallel with the side wall, and an elongated and vertical intermediate wall connected to and extending upwardly from the other side edge of the bottom wall and terminating in an upper side edge spaced below and parallel with the top wall. The upper side edge of the intermediate wall is rounded adjacent one end of the casing. The vertical distance from the upper side edge of the intermediate wall to the bottom wall is preferably no greater than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fishhook to the eye portion thereof so that the eye portion will be disposed below the bottom wall when the curved portion of the fishhook is received on the upper side edge of the intermediate wall. The horizontal distance between the lip and the intermediate side wall is less than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fishhook to the shank portion thereof so that, when a fishhook is inserted into one end of the casing the plane of the curved portion of the fishhook is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the intermediate side wall so as to prevent the barbs of the adjacent fishhooks from becoming entangled with each other. Preferably the casing or device of the present invention can be formed from a single metallic sheet or blank which is folded to form the various portions of the device as referred to above. The blank is also provided with a tab for folding over the end of the device opposite from the place of insertion of the fishhooks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective, with a portion broken away, of the fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser of the present device showing a trotline associated therewith;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of a blank from which the dispensing and holding device of the present invention can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, reference numeral 10 generally designates a holding and dispensing device for a trotline 12 having attached thereto a plurality of leaders 14. A plurality of fishhooks 16 are attached to the free ends of the leaders 14 by suitable knots as is well known. One end 18 of the trotline 12 can be wound around the rear end of the device 10 and attached thereto by a suitable knot as would be well known. The other end (not shown) of the trotline 12 would be attached to a main line, a stake, or other stationary object which would permit the withdrawal of the trotline and leaders by a pulling action on the device 10 away from the stationary object so that the hooks 16 could be lowered into a body of water (not shown). The casing 10 has an elongated and narrow top wall 20 which is defined by a pair of opposite and narrow end edges 22 and 24 and a pair of opposite and elongated side edges 26 and 28. Below and parallel to the top wall 20 is a bottom wall 30 which is defined by a pair of opposite and narrow end edges 32 and 34 and a pair of opposite and elongated side edges 36 and 38. It should be noted that the side edges of the top wall are substantially of the same length as the side edges of the bottom wall but the end edges 22 and 24 of the top wall are somewhat wider than the end edges 32 and 34 of the bottom wall. An elongated and vertical end wall 40 extends from the side edge 26 of the top wall 20 to the side edge 36 of the bottom wall 30. An elongated and vertical lip 42 extends downwardly from the side edge 28 of the top wall 20 substantially parallel with the side wall 40 and terminates in a lower side edge 44 spaced above and parallel with the bottom wall 30. The lower side edge of the lip 42 is preferably provided with a rounded end 46 adjacent the open forward end 48 of the casing.

Extending upwardly from the side edge 38 of the bottom wall 30 is an intermediate wall 50 which is parallel with and between the lip 42 and the side wall 40. The upper end of the intermediate side wall 50 terminates in an upper side edge 52 spaced below and parallel with the top wall 20.

As best shown in FIG. 2, a fishhook 16 is shown as received in the open end 48 of the device 10. The fishhook 16 has a main straight shank portion 54 at one end of which is an eye 56. The other end of the shank portion 54 connects with a curved portion 58 which is curved approximately through 180 and which terminates in a barb 60 at the end of the curved portion.

The distance from theupper edge 52 of the intermediate wall to the lower edge 38 is preferably less than the distance from the center of the curved portion 58 to the eye 56 of the fishhook 16. This means that, when the hook 16 is inserted into the device, the eye 56 will be disposed below the lower wall 30; stated conversely, the vertical height of the intermediate wall 50 should be such that the eyes 56 will not ride against the side of the intermediate wall 50 when the fishhook is inserted into the device.

The horizontal distance between the lip 42 and the intermediate wall 50 must be sufficiently small that it would be impossible to insert a hook into the device where the plane of the hook was at right angles to the plane of the intermediate wall 50; stated somewhat differently, the distance from the center of the curved portion 58 of the hook to the shank portion thereof (extended) should be greater than the distance from the lip 42 to the intermediate wall 50. This means that the plane of the fishhook as formed by the curved portion thereof will always be at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the intermediate wall. Again, when the fishhook is inserted into the open end 48 of the device the fishhook will not rotate with respect to the axis of the shank portion 58 such that it is impossible for the barb 60 to come in contact with a barb of an adjacent fishhook thereby preventing possible entanglement between the fishhooks. The upper side edge of the intermediate wall 50 is provided with a rounded end 53 adjacent the forward open end 48 of the casing.

FIG. 4 shows a blank 62 from which the device 10 of the present invention may be made by merely folding along the dotted lines indicated. The blank 62 has been marked with reference numerals representing the corresponding lines and portions described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3. The blank 62 of FIG. 4 also shows an integral flap 64 having an outwardly projecting tab 66. The flap 64 is adapted to be folded relative to the side wall 40 along the folding line 68 so as to cover the end opposite from the open end 48 as best shown in FIG. 3.

Starting with the blank 62 shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate wall 50 and the side wall 40 are formed parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom wall 40 by folding along lines 36 and 38. Thereafter, the lip 42 is folded relative to the top wall along the folding line 28 and the top wall 20 is folded relative to the side wall along the folding line 26 until the relative configuration shown in FIG. 2 is achieved. Thereafter, the flap 64 is folded along the lines 68 until flap 64 and tab 66 are in the position shown in FIG. 3.

When inserting the fishhooks 16 into the device 10, the barbs 60 are preferably turned toward the rear so that the fingers of the fisherman come in contact with the hook opposite from the barbed portion. Therafter, the hooks are slid towards the rear as far as possible. The barbs of adjacent hooks will not come into contact with each other, however, because the hooks are firmly engaged between the lip and the intermediate wall and cannot be twisted.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may

be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser for a trotline having a plurality of spaced leaders attached thereto, each leader having a fishhook attached to the free end thereof, and each fishhook being of substantially the same size and shape and being composed of a shank portion, an eye at one end of the shank portion for attachment to the leader, a curved portion attached at one end to the other end of said shank portion and a barb on the other end of said curved portion comprisan elongated casing formed by a narrow elongated and horizontal top wall having a pair of opposite and narrow end edges and a pair of opposite and elongated side edges,

a narrow elongated bottom wall disposed below and parallel with said top wall and having a pair of opposite and narrow end edges and a pair of opposite and elongated side edges,

the side edges of said top wall being of substantially the same length as the side edges of said bottom wall, the end edges of said top wall being wider than the end edges of said bottom wall,

an elongated and vertical side wall connected from one side edge of said top wall to one side edge of said bottom wall,

an elongated and vertical lip connected to and extending downwardly from the other side edge of said top wall substantially parallel to and substantially coextensive with said side wall,

an elongated and vertical intermediate wall having a length substantially equal to that of said vertical side wall and connected to and extending upwardly from the other side edge of said bottom wall and terminating in an upper side edge spaced below and parallel with said top wall, said intermediate wall being disposed between and parallel with said side wall and said lip, the upper side edge of said intermediate wall having a rounded end adjacent one end of said casing,

the vertical distance from the upper side edge of said intermediate wall to said other side edge of said bottom wall being no greater than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fish hook to the eye portion thereof, whereby said eye portion will be disposed below said other edge of said bottom wall when said curved portion is received on said upper side edge of said intermediate wall, and

the horizontal distance between said lip and said intermediate side wall being less than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fishhookto the shank portion thereof, whereby the fishhook must be inserted and retained in said casing in such manner that the plane of the curved portion is at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said intermediate side wall.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said casing is formed from a single metallic sheet which is folded to form said top wall, bottom wall, side wall, lip and intermediate wall.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said casing is provided with an end wall to close the end thereof opposite from said one end of said casing.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said casing is form said top wall, bottom wall, side wall, lip, intermediate wall and end wall. 

1. A fishhook and trotline holder and dispenser for a trotline having a plurality of spaced leaders attached thereto, each leader having a fishhook attached to the free end thereof, and each fishhook being of substantially the same size and shape and being composed of a shank portion, an eye at one end of the shank portion for attachment to the leader, a curved portion attached at one end to the other end of said shank portion and a barb on the other end of said curved portion comprising: an elongated casing formed by a narrow elongated and horizontal top wall having a pair of opposite and narrow end edges and a pair of opposite and elongated side edges, a narrow elongated bottom wall disposed below and parallel with said top wall and having a pair of opposite and narrow end edges and a pair of opposite and elongated side edges, the side edges of said top wall being of substantially the same length as the side edges of said bottom wall, the end edges of said top wall being wider than the end edges of said bottom wall, an elongated and vertical side wall connected from one side edge of said top wall to one side edge of said bottom wall, an elongated and vertical lip connected to and extending downwardly from the other side edge of said top wall substantially parallel to and substantially coextensive with said side wall, an elongated and vertical intermediate wall having a length substantially equal to that of said vertical side wall and connected to and extending upwardly from the other side edge of said bottom wall and terminating in an upper side edge spaced below and parallel with said top wall, said intermediate wall being disposed between and parallel with said side wall and said lip, the upper side edge of said intermediate wall having a rounded end adjacent one end of said casing, the vertical distance from the upper side edge of said intermediate wall to said other side edge of said bottom wall being no greater than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fish hook to the eye portion thereof, whereby said eye portion will be disposed below said other edge of said bottom wall when said curved portion is received on said upper side edge of said intermediate wall, and the horizontal distance between said lip and said intermediate side wall being less than the distance from the center of the curved portion of the fishhook to the shank portion thereof, whereby the fishhook must be inserted and retained in said casing in such manner that the plane of the curved portion is at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said intermediate side wall.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said casing is formed from a single metallic sheet which is folded to form said top wall, bottom wall, side wall, lip and intermediate wall.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said casing is provided with an end wall to close the end thereof opposite from said one end of said casing.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said casing is formed from a single metallic sheet which is folded to form said top wall, bottom wall, side wall, lip, intermediate wall and end wall. 